It's awkward talking to the dark stallion's rump, and yet the stranger does not turn to face him. Reh almost considers leaving, and shifts uncomfortably in place. Given the dark man's familiarity with the land, it was as if he'd walked in on some superior ranking stallion that couldn't be bothered to give him the time of day, and was harming his own prospects by lingering in his presence.

Thankfully, before Rehoboam can think better of approaching, his companion starts talking and the young recruit finds himself drawn in to the explanation. I was raised here, he explains, and immediately Reh cannot help but wonder what his life would have been like if his mother had escaped with him. Would she have come back here instead of dropping him in the Cove? Or would he have been raised away from his family, like a crossing waif without a father?

...you Lagoon boys have turned into complete idiots, the older man is saying and Rehoboam stiffens, his dark-rimmed ears tilting back. He had still not grown used to be grouped together with the Lagoonies he had come to join, and to be insulted along with the roving masses of strange men just felt different. As if his own identity now came behind the mask of brotherhood. Or by some miracle I'm growing my eyesight back. He finishes and Reh finally makes the connection. It makes sense now as to why he was so familiar with the landscape, although acknowledging his disability does nothing to warm his opinion of the stranger.

"Rehoboam," the grullo offers stiffly as the other comes to face him, his tone rigid as he oscillates between annoyance and curiosity. This was by far the best chance he had at finding out about more of his past, and yet his pride still stung from the general insult. Eventually, he opts to take advantage of the opportunity anyway, his ears still buried beneath the tangle of his mane.

"Did you happen to know a mare by the name of Keres?" He tries to keep the tone of his voice neutral, but his coat still twitches with the tension of his new position. "I was told she used to live here a long time ago."